Walz was there to sign the Free School Meals for Kids bill into law, and the noisy excitement in the halls reflected the governor’s mood. In 2023, Rep. Ilhan Omar, who also represents Minnesota, Rep. Adam Schiff, and Rep. Jahana Hayes introduced the Universal School Meals Program Act. The law would provide students with free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack each day, without needing to prove eligibility. It really was a coalition.”It is going to require that level of coalition-building to bring Minnesota’s approach to universal school meals to the national level. “[Universal school meals] reduce the household food budget and make it easier for families to make ends meet.